The European Union wants smartphones to use USB-C ports for charging. In the new 2022 MacBook Air, however, Apple just reinforced its faith in its proprietary connector, the MagSafe charger.
According to Reuters, the EU tomorrow is likely to demand that phones, tablets, and headphones all charge with USB-C. Apple is the major holdout against USB-C in phones and tablets with its proprietary Lightning port.
Reuters also says, though, that the proposal may apply to laptops, and if it does, many more manufacturers are on the hook. My Lenovo laptop, like many others, has a large, nonstandard charging brick with its own proprietary connector.
But ironically, Apple had previously gone full-USB-C on its MacBook Air. Its 2020 MacBook Air uses USB-C Thunderbolt ports for charging.
That said, as an owner of both a USB-C MacBook Air and a MagSafe 2020 MacBook Pro, MagSafe is the superior user experience. I leave my laptops lying around charging a lot, and the cables tend to get yanked. There's a potential for damage with a port like USB-C (or any other port that attaches deep into the PC) while MagSafe really can't get hurt.
The new 2022 Air has it both ways. While Apple is making a big deal out of its MagSafe cord, it also has the EU-approved way to charge, in two Thunderbolt USB-C ports. That puts it ahead of some competing laptop companies, and still lets it thumb its nose at the EU regulation and assert that proprietary is better.
Apple will offer three charging options for the MacBook Air, according to its spec sheet. Most models of the laptop will come with a 30W adapter, but other models will come with a 35W adapter, which includes an extra USB-C port to power your phone or tablet. There's also a 67W fast-charging adapter.
We'll probably hear more from the EU about its charging port standard tomorrow (Update: Here it isHere it is.) The new $1,199 MacBook Air will be available next month.
For more, check out our hands on with Apple's M2 MacBook Air and the video below.